Oklahoma’s education chief demands a staggering $474.9 million from Vice President Kamala Harris, citing the heavy burden of educating undocumented students.
At a Glance
- Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters sends demand letter to VP Harris for $474.9 million
- Costs attributed to educating undocumented minors in Oklahoma schools
- Walters claims border crisis is “crippling” Oklahoma schools
- Oklahoma is first state to calculate and bill federal administration for these costs
- Harris’ office has not responded to the demand
Oklahoma Takes Bold Stand Against Federal Immigration Policies
Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, has taken a stand against what he sees as the crippling effects of illegal immigration on the state’s education system by sending a bill straight to the office of the vice president.
Walters has sent a demand letter to Vice President Kamala Harris, billing the federal administration for a whopping $474.9 million in costs associated with educating undocumented minors in Oklahoma schools.
I demand that @VP Harris reimburse Oklahoma taxpayers for the cost of educating illegal immigrants in our public schools, a direct result of the Biden-Harris failure to secure the border.
— Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) October 29, 2024
Bravo!
This unprecedented action marks Oklahoma as the first state to quantify and formally request reimbursement for these expenses from the federal government. Walters isn’t pulling any punches, laying the blame squarely at the feet of the Biden administration’s border policies.
Walters argues that the education of illegal immigrant minors has become “the largest unfunded mandate in the country.” The $474.9 million figure wasn’t pulled out of thin air; it’s the result of a careful calculation by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, tasked by Walters to determine the financial impact on taxpayers.
“As the statewide elected Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Oklahoma and the Executive Officer of the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), it is my duty to ensure that the resources allocated to our public schools are counted for and used in the most effective manner possible for the benefit of Oklahoma students’ education,” Walters said in the letter to Harris.
It’s not just about the money, is it? It’s about ensuring that Oklahoma’s students aren’t shortchanged due to federal policies that strain local resources.
A Call for Federal Accountability
Walters isn’t just looking for a check, by the way; he’s demanding accountability. In his letter to VP Harris, he didn’t mince words about the administration’s role in creating this crisis.
“Under your supervision, the costs in education due to illegal immigration have risen astronomically. Your failed oversight and efforts are a direct cause of the current crises Oklahoma and other states now face. Oklahoma taxpayers, schools, teachers, and parents should not bear the burden of your failings. They deserve better,” he said.
This scathing critique highlights the frustration felt by many state officials who are grappling with the consequences of federal immigration policies. Walters is essentially saying that the federal government has created this problem, and now it’s time for them to foot the bill.
We know Harris won’t pay it, but if God forbid she wins the White House in a few days, hopefully she’ll take notice.
